Los Alamos High School announced the slate for this year’s Louie Cernicek Invitational tournament last week, and, as usual, it’s another solid crop of opponents.
The Louie Cernicek Invitational, hosted by the Hilltopper boys soccer team, is usually one of the most competitive tournaments held in northern New Mexico. This year’s tournament is no exception.
This is the 15th year for Los Alamos’ boy soccer tournament, which was known as the Mountain Top Invitational until 1997.
Currently, all but one of the tournament’s games are scheduled to be played at Sullivan Field, although it is unknown if renovations at Sullivan Field will be completed by the Sept. 2 first round.
The Hilltoppers, the defending Class 4A champions, will take on Goddard in the opening round. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers’ opponent in the 4A championship game in 2010, Belen, will also be taking part. Belen will face off against Bernalillo in the opening round.
The other first round contests include Roswell against Piedra Vista and Farmington, the 2009 state champion, playing Class 5A Clovis. The Clovis-Farmington game is the only game that isn’t currently scheduled to be played at Sullivan Field — it will be played at Dara Jones Field in White Rock.
Los Alamos won the 2010 Louie Cernicek Invitational, defeating Belen in the finale, 3-1. It was the first time Los Alamos had won its home tournament since 2004.